Ishikari coalfield


The Ishikari coal basin lies in the tertiary mountains of the mining region of Sorachi, east of the Ishikari Plain in central Hokkaido. These coal veins contain the largest quantity of coal of Japan. Because of its late discovery the historical role of the coalfield could not be compared with that of the Chikuho coalfield, but its economic importance since the Japanese industrial revolution is comparable with that of the southern Chikuhō coalfield.

The Discovery

It was explorer Matsuura Takeshirō, who, during his journey through Hokkaido in 1857, first marked the coal seams on the banks of the Sorachi river near Akabira. In 1868, carpenter Kimura Kichitarō discovered coal in Horonai, Mikasa. However, it took another six years before the local government took action, and the mining engineers Benjamin Smith Lyman and Takeaki Enomoto welded an investigation. Their findings were satisfactory, and the Meiji government decided to build in Horonai the first coalmine of the Ishikari coal basin. In 1889, the Meiji government sold off the mine and its railways to, Hori Motoi, who found the Hokkaido Colliery and Railway Company, abbreviated as Hokutan.
Alongside to the historic mine Horonai this basin is also home to the famous mining town of Yūbari. Here in 1888, coal was discovered by engineer Ban Ichitarō, a follower of Benjamin Smith Lyman, on the upper reaches of the river Shihorokabetsu. The following year, Hokutan opened its first colliery in Yūbari, the Yūbari Saitanjo.

Location of the Coalfield and its Collieries

List of Coal Mines in Ishikari

NumberMineTop Annual ProductionCoordinatesAssociated TownOwnerStart DateClosing Date
1Hokutan Horonai coal mine1500.000MikasaHokutan18791989
2Hokutan Ikushunbetsu coal mine200.000IkushunbetsuHokutan18851957
3Sorachi coal mine1500.000UtashinaiHokutan18901995
4Hokutan Yūbari coal mine2000.000YūbariHokutan18901977
5Hokutan Kamui coal mine500.000UtashinaiHokutan18911971
6Sumitomo Kami Utashinai coal mine300.000UtashinaiSumitomo18941988
7Sumitomo Akabira coal mine1900.000AkabiraSumitomo18951993
8Mitsui Sunagawa coal mine1600.000KamisunagawaMitsui18991987
9Sumitomo Ponbetsu coal mine1500.000MikasaSumitomo19021971
10Sumitomo Yayoi coal mineMikasaSumitomo19051970
11Sumitomo Utashinai coal mine800.000UtashinaiSumitomo19051971
12Hokutan Mayachi coal mine700.000YūbariHokutan19051987
13Hokutan Manji coal mine500.000ManjiHokutan19051976
14Mitsubishi Ōyūbari coal mine1000.000YūbariMitsubishi19061973
15Mitsubishi Bibai coal mine1600.000BibaiMitsubishi19131972
16Mitsubishi Ashibetsu coal mine300.000AshibetsuMitsubishi19141964
17Hokutan Miruto coal mineMirutoHokutan19171969
18Mitsui Bibai coal mine1000.000BibaiMitsui19181963
19Moshiri coal mineAkabiraYūbetsu19181969
20Hokutan Kakuta coal mineKakutaHokutan19271953
21Meiji mining kami Ashibetsu coal mine100.000AshibetsuMeiji mining19351963
22Hokutan Heiwa coal mine1000.000YūbariHokutan19371975
23Toyosato coal mineAkabiraToyosato Mining Company19371954
24Hokutan Akama coal mineAkabiraHokutan19381973
25Takane coal mine200.000AshibetsuTakane19381967
26Mitsui Ashibetsu coal mine1700.000AshibetsuMitsui19391992
27Mitsui Oku Naie coal mine460.000NaieMitsui19471966
28Mitsubishi Minami Ōyūbari coal mineYūbariMitsubishi19661990
29Hokutan Yūbari Shin coal mineYūbariHokutan19701981
30Hokutan Shimisuzawa coal mineYūbariHokutan
31Yuya coal mine200.000UtashinaiYuya19**1965